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green, which sparkled from the heat of his touch. Last, he rubbed the stone right of center. The blue topaz glimmered and the three gemstones melded into a circle of multi-colors. Each different in its magical properties but combined to aid the person wearing it, giving them the ability to perceive, understand and speak the language of the world around them.
    Tor tugged the silver circle apart wide enough to fit around the woman’s neck. When he tried to place it on her, she leaned back and grabbed the amulet, wrapping her fingers around the large stones.
    “What are you doing?”
    It was the first words she’d spoken he understood. Even though it wasn’t around her neck, the magic worked because her fingers were wrapped tightly around it.
    “Woman,” he stated in the gruff authoritative tone he used with his men, “this is the Amulet of Perception. Wear it and we shall communicate.”
    Her eyes widened, she gasped and he knew she understood him. She released the amulet as she rose to her feet. At first he saw the confusion in her face as she stared at him and the glowing jewelry in his hands. Moments passed as they stood silent, each watching the other, sizing up the situation.
    No man in his ranks ever defied a direct order. But this foreign female did and that heated his blood. Not in a bad way either, he decided as he waited. No. Her presence created this desperate need to mate and ignited this fire within his veins, though he did not understand why.
     
    Deveney couldn’t believe the immense beauty of the necklace in his hand. Surprise gripped her. He’d left the room and came back with a gift, but why? Maybe she wasn’t such a bad kisser after all, she mused.
    Watching the way he caressed the stones made her wish he touched her breasts in such a tender manner and not some necklace. Each gemstone glowed then seemed to blend into one glamorous color. Her eyes widened. What magic did he possess?
    When the gentle giant of a man turned to her with the necklace held open as if he intended to place it on her, she panicked. Would it control her? If she let him put that thing on her, would she ever escape this world and return home if she decided to? Fears flashed through her brain faster than greased lightning. On instinct, she’d grabbed the necklace, lacing her fingers tight around the three round stones, and demanded to know what he was doing.
    When he actually answered and she understood, her mind warped. A whole new fathom of magic whirled around her. How did she understand him? How did he understand her?
    He’d spoken. Did she understand? Yes, she realized, thinking through his rough words. Amulet of Perception. Wear it, communicate. Was that a lie or the truth?
    Maven’s voice reiterated in her head on a whisper. Learn the ways of the people. Your survival depends on it.
    Deveney swallowed hard, took a deep breath, gathered her resolve and stiffened her spine. She landed in this world for a reason. Until she knew why, she couldn’t go home. Scattered thoughts speared her brain. Find the animal that called to your heart—whatever that meant.Find your match to your magic, your lifemate. In order to accomplish any of this, she needed to understand the language and if that glowing thing helped, then so be it. Apparently it was a way of this world’s people. Determined not to fail the mission given to her by her mentor Maven, Deveney forced her legs to work and stepped forward.
    She lifted her hair off her neck and slowly turned, giving him her back. Hopefully he understood. If not, maybe he’d just put her out of her misery and kill her where she stood, because she’d rather be dead than live in this world of hunks without sex. That would be sheer torture, to be surrounded by gorgeous men and not be able to control her magic long enough to complete the sex act at least once with the large buff blond behind her. Deveney chewed her lower lip and waited.
     
    Tor’s slow smile couldn’t be stopped when she